Liverpool score five in dominant win over West Ham
The last time Liverpool scored five goals in a Premier League match, the sun was shining as they secured the title with a 5-1 victory over Tottenham in April 2025.
Similar conditions prevailed on Saturday when Liverpool netted five goals against West Ham. After a largely turbulent season, the Reds are entering March with renewed confidence.
Arne Slot's team was not entirely convincing against a West Ham side fighting relegation, but the statistics indicate a squad progressing well, currently sitting fifth in the Premier League, just three points behind third place.
"I could feel the nervousness inside the stadium," Slot said following a peculiar match where Liverpool were clinical, though not always dominant.
They have won four of their last five Premier League games, matching the number of wins they achieved in their previous 13 matches (6 draws, 3 losses). The team is clearly improving as it seeks to salvage the season.
Slot has acknowledged that failing to qualify for the Champions League would be unacceptable for the reigning champions. Recently, Liverpool have focused on moving towards this minimum target.
Earlier in the campaign, qualification seemed unlikely due to poor results, a dispute involving talisman Mohamed Salah, and an injury to record signing Alexander Isak.
Now, Liverpool have regained their ability to win matches, whether through late goals, resilient away performances, or enhanced set-piece effectiveness.
Belief is returning at Anfield.
Deadly at dead balls as Liverpool 'go back to normal'
Liverpool have lost only twice in their last 21 matches across all competitions.
Since the start of the year, Liverpool have scored more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than any other Premier League team.
Seven of Liverpool's last nine Premier League goals have originated from set-pieces (5 from corners, 1 from a direct free-kick, and 1 from a throw-in), surpassing the total set-piece goals from their first 38 goals of the season. All three goals in the first half against West Ham came from corners.
"It's very pleasing because firstly that is the reason we have won," said Slot.
"Second of all, people said well played, and in my opinion we have been better when we lost and better when we conceded from set-pieces.
"The first half of the season, almost every set-piece we conceded went in. Now we start scoring from set-pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don't."
At the end of 2025, former set-piece coach Aaron Briggs departed the club.
When asked what had changed about his team, Slot said: "Things went back to normal.
"We have created quite a lot of chances in the first half of the season that too many times did not go in. Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively.
"Our set-up is slightly different, but the biggest reason is that things go back to normal. There was a time when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal, including penalties, and we have closed the gap a bit."
'Step by step, we are getting better'
Some fans believe a good season is one where the team still has objectives to pursue in April.
Liverpool will not retain back-to-back Premier League titles but will enter March still competing in the FA Cup and Champions League, and in a strong position to finish in the top five, which would effectively secure Champions League qualification for next season.
Following a week in which the club reported record revenues exceeding £700 million for the last accounting year, with a profit after tax of £8 million, securing European competition is crucial.
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who scored Liverpool's third goal, told Match of the Day: "The last four or five months is when teams show what they can do.
"That's what we want. We know how important it is to qualify for the Champions League for the club and us as a team. The goal is there and we are going to do everything to qualify and be closer to the teams on top."
Team-mate Cody Gakpo shared a similar view with Sky Sports: "It was a good afternoon. Step by step, we're getting [to be] a better team.
"We had a difficult moment during the season, but hopefully these last few games are the start of something beautiful."
With consecutive matches against Wolves in the league and FA Cup next week, followed by a trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League, the upcoming 10 days will be pivotal in defining their season.
Should Liverpool navigate this period successfully, fans may begin to genuinely believe in the possibility of achieving something remarkable.
